diff --git a/internal/backend/local/config.go b/internal/backend/local/config.go
index 13b7f67aa..e59d1f693 100644
--- a/internal/backend/local/config.go
+++ b/internal/backend/local/config.go
@@ -11,6 +11,15 @@ import (
 type Config struct {
 	Path   string
 	Layout string `option:"layout" help:"use this backend directory layout (default: auto-detect)"`
+
+	Connections uint `option:"connections" help:"set a limit for the number of concurrent operations (default: 2)"`
+}
+
+// NewConfig returns a new config with default options applied.
+func NewConfig() Config {
+	return Config{
+		Connections: 2,
+	}
 }
 
 func init() {
@@ -18,10 +27,12 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 // ParseConfig parses a local backend config.
-func ParseConfig(cfg string) (interface{}, error) {
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(cfg, "local:") {
+func ParseConfig(s string) (interface{}, error) {
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(s, "local:") {
 		return nil, errors.New(`invalid format, prefix "local" not found`)
 	}
 
-	return Config{Path: cfg[6:]}, nil
+	cfg := NewConfig()
+	cfg.Path = s[6:]
+	return cfg, nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/backend/local/layout_test.go b/internal/backend/local/layout_test.go
index 5b1135253..9da702877 100644
--- a/internal/backend/local/layout_test.go
+++ b/internal/backend/local/layout_test.go
@@ -37,8 +37,9 @@ func TestLayout(t *testing.T) {
 
 			repo := filepath.Join(path, "repo")
 			be, err := Open(context.TODO(), Config{
-				Path:   repo,
-				Layout: test.layout,
+				Path:        repo,
+				Layout:      test.layout,
+				Connections: 2,
 			})
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/internal/backend/local/local.go b/internal/backend/local/local.go
index 833bde26f..0ae023b8e 100644
--- a/internal/backend/local/local.go
+++ b/internal/backend/local/local.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 // Local is a backend in a local directory.
 type Local struct {
 	Config
+	sem *backend.Semaphore
 	backend.Layout
 }
 
@@ -30,15 +31,28 @@ var _ restic.Backend = &Local{}
 
 const defaultLayout = "default"
 
-// Open opens the local backend as specified by config.
-func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
-	debug.Log("open local backend at %v (layout %q)", cfg.Path, cfg.Layout)
+func open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
 	l, err := backend.ParseLayout(ctx, &backend.LocalFilesystem{}, cfg.Layout, defaultLayout, cfg.Path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return &Local{Config: cfg, Layout: l}, nil
+	sem, err := backend.NewSemaphore(cfg.Connections)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return &Local{
+		Config: cfg,
+		Layout: l,
+		sem:    sem,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// Open opens the local backend as specified by config.
+func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
+	debug.Log("open local backend at %v (layout %q)", cfg.Path, cfg.Layout)
+	return open(ctx, cfg)
 }
 
 // Create creates all the necessary files and directories for a new local
@@ -46,16 +60,11 @@ func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
 func Create(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
 	debug.Log("create local backend at %v (layout %q)", cfg.Path, cfg.Layout)
 
-	l, err := backend.ParseLayout(ctx, &backend.LocalFilesystem{}, cfg.Layout, defaultLayout, cfg.Path)
+	be, err := open(ctx, cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	be := &Local{
-		Config: cfg,
-		Layout: l,
-	}
-
 	// test if config file already exists
 	_, err = fs.Lstat(be.Filename(restic.Handle{Type: restic.ConfigFile}))
 	if err == nil {
@@ -73,6 +82,10 @@ func Create(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
 	return be, nil
 }
 
+func (b *Local) Connections() uint {
+	return b.Config.Connections
+}
+
 // Location returns this backend's location (the directory name).
 func (b *Local) Location() string {
 	return b.Path
@@ -105,6 +118,9 @@ func (b *Local) Save(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle, rd restic.RewindReade
 		}
 	}()
 
+	b.sem.GetToken()
+	defer b.sem.ReleaseToken()
+
 	// Create new file with a temporary name.
 	tmpname := filepath.Base(finalname) + "-tmp-"
 	f, err := tempFile(dir, tmpname)
@@ -199,24 +215,29 @@ func (b *Local) openReader(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle, length int, off
 		return nil, errors.New("offset is negative")
 	}
 
+	b.sem.GetToken()
 	f, err := fs.Open(b.Filename(h))
 	if err != nil {
+		b.sem.ReleaseToken()
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	if offset > 0 {
 		_, err = f.Seek(offset, 0)
 		if err != nil {
+			b.sem.ReleaseToken()
 			_ = f.Close()
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
 
+	r := b.sem.ReleaseTokenOnClose(f, nil)
+
 	if length > 0 {
-		return backend.LimitReadCloser(f, int64(length)), nil
+		return backend.LimitReadCloser(r, int64(length)), nil
 	}
 
-	return f, nil
+	return r, nil
 }
 
 // Stat returns information about a blob.
@@ -226,6 +247,9 @@ func (b *Local) Stat(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle) (restic.FileInfo, err
 		return restic.FileInfo{}, backoff.Permanent(err)
 	}
 
+	b.sem.GetToken()
+	defer b.sem.ReleaseToken()
+
 	fi, err := fs.Stat(b.Filename(h))
 	if err != nil {
 		return restic.FileInfo{}, errors.WithStack(err)
@@ -237,6 +261,10 @@ func (b *Local) Stat(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle) (restic.FileInfo, err
 // Test returns true if a blob of the given type and name exists in the backend.
 func (b *Local) Test(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle) (bool, error) {
 	debug.Log("Test %v", h)
+
+	b.sem.GetToken()
+	defer b.sem.ReleaseToken()
+
 	_, err := fs.Stat(b.Filename(h))
 	if err != nil {
 		if b.IsNotExist(err) {
@@ -253,6 +281,9 @@ func (b *Local) Remove(ctx context.Context, h restic.Handle) error {
 	debug.Log("Remove %v", h)
 	fn := b.Filename(h)
 
+	b.sem.GetToken()
+	defer b.sem.ReleaseToken()
+
 	// reset read-only flag
 	err := fs.Chmod(fn, 0666)
 	if err != nil && !os.IsPermission(err) {
diff --git a/internal/backend/local/local_internal_test.go b/internal/backend/local/local_internal_test.go
index 8d2ec08c3..8de3d3c2f 100644
--- a/internal/backend/local/local_internal_test.go
+++ b/internal/backend/local/local_internal_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func TestNoSpacePermanent(t *testing.T) {
 	dir, cleanup := rtest.TempDir(t)
 	defer cleanup()
 
-	be, err := Open(context.Background(), Config{Path: dir})
+	be, err := Open(context.Background(), Config{Path: dir, Connections: 2})
 	rtest.OK(t, err)
 	defer func() {
 		rtest.OK(t, be.Close())
diff --git a/internal/backend/local/local_test.go b/internal/backend/local/local_test.go
index 70b5e771e..75c3b8ed7 100644
--- a/internal/backend/local/local_test.go
+++ b/internal/backend/local/local_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ func newTestSuite(t testing.TB) *test.Suite {
 			t.Logf("create new backend at %v", dir)
 
 			cfg := local.Config{
-				Path: dir,
+				Path:        dir,
+				Connections: 2,
 			}
 			return cfg, nil
 		},
diff --git a/internal/backend/location/location_test.go b/internal/backend/location/location_test.go
index 3160a2af7..ded9450e9 100644
--- a/internal/backend/location/location_test.go
+++ b/internal/backend/location/location_test.go
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		"local:/srv/repo",
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: "/srv/repo",
+				Path:        "/srv/repo",
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -38,7 +39,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		"local:dir1/dir2",
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: "dir1/dir2",
+				Path:        "dir1/dir2",
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -46,7 +48,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		"local:dir1/dir2",
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: "dir1/dir2",
+				Path:        "dir1/dir2",
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -54,7 +57,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		"dir1/dir2",
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: "dir1/dir2",
+				Path:        "dir1/dir2",
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -62,7 +66,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		"/dir1/dir2",
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: "/dir1/dir2",
+				Path:        "/dir1/dir2",
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -70,7 +75,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		"local:../dir1/dir2",
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: "../dir1/dir2",
+				Path:        "../dir1/dir2",
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -78,7 +84,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		"/dir1/dir2",
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: "/dir1/dir2",
+				Path:        "/dir1/dir2",
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -86,7 +93,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		"/dir1:foobar/dir2",
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: "/dir1:foobar/dir2",
+				Path:        "/dir1:foobar/dir2",
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -94,7 +102,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		`\dir1\foobar\dir2`,
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: `\dir1\foobar\dir2`,
+				Path:        `\dir1\foobar\dir2`,
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -102,7 +111,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		`c:\dir1\foobar\dir2`,
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: `c:\dir1\foobar\dir2`,
+				Path:        `c:\dir1\foobar\dir2`,
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -110,7 +120,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		`C:\Users\appveyor\AppData\Local\Temp\1\restic-test-879453535\repo`,
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: `C:\Users\appveyor\AppData\Local\Temp\1\restic-test-879453535\repo`,
+				Path:        `C:\Users\appveyor\AppData\Local\Temp\1\restic-test-879453535\repo`,
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
@@ -118,7 +129,8 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		`c:/dir1/foobar/dir2`,
 		Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: local.Config{
-				Path: `c:/dir1/foobar/dir2`,
+				Path:        `c:/dir1/foobar/dir2`,
+				Connections: 2,
 			},
 		},
 	},
diff --git a/internal/repository/testing.go b/internal/repository/testing.go
index 899b8a7e3..d752e107e 100644
--- a/internal/repository/testing.go
+++ b/internal/repository/testing.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func TestRepository(t testing.TB) (r restic.Repository, cleanup func()) {
 
 // TestOpenLocal opens a local repository.
 func TestOpenLocal(t testing.TB, dir string) (r restic.Repository) {
-	be, err := local.Open(context.TODO(), local.Config{Path: dir})
+	be, err := local.Open(context.TODO(), local.Config{Path: dir, Connections: 2})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}